'It's the pinnacle of my career' - Old Pulteney release 30 and 50 year old whiskies to celebrate 200 years

A careful selection of four casks have been combined to create the 50 year old whisky, resulting in a whisky of deep coastal character. This single malt has been predominantly matured in American oak with a subtle seasoning of European oak.

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The 30 year old is a limited release of 1,000 bottles and also draws a side of its character from American and European oak.

Designed by Lewis Moberly, the Old Pulteney team partnered with two UK specialists to bring both bottles to life with Glencairn Crystal handcrafting the whisky’s bespoke decanters and Morans Wood Components creating the outer casings.

Distillery manager Malcolm Waring was a stillman when the 30 year old was distilled and in a serendipitous twist of fate, he also filled the cask that the whisky has been maturing in all this time. In his current role, he has overseen the cask management making this a full circle moment for him.

Speaking at a VIP launch event ahead of the whisky being released, Mr Waring said: “When I’m asked what my favourite Old Pulteney expression is out of the whole lineup, I always answer ‘it’s a very hard thing to say as they’re all like my kids and I just can’t pick one.’

“But after 38 years, I’ve never really been asked the question ‘what is the pinnacle of what you’ve done.?’ A difficult question to answer but set the scene back 30 years ago. I was a shift operator, a stillman and I worked on the shop floor so to speak and I distilled the 30 year old whisky.

“When I looked back at the records, it turned out that I also filled the casks as well. For a further 30 years I’ve been a custodian as well. I’ve been sat in my office looking out at warehouse four (where the whisky has been maturing). From the heart, I’d say this is the pinnacle of what I’ve done.

“As I’ve been the custodian, the distiller; looking after the maturation - that’s something very unusual, very different that you don’t get a lot and it’s certainly very special for me. It’s absolutely fantastic. It’s Pulteney harking back to the old days. The distillery is old and traditional and I’m one of those people who believes in distilling from the heart and the senses. It’s passion and it’s love, and that’s what comes out into the glass.”

At the same event, Sarah Burges, the master of whisky creation at International Beverage, which distills Old Pulteney, said: said: “This whisky is phenomenal. This is to celebrate our 200 years which in itself is an amazing achievement for any distillery. And for us to celebrate that 200 years with a 30 year old whisky, the casks of which were filled by Malcolm himself is just so special.

“I’m quite new at International Beverage and to be able to spend my first few weeks nosing and tasting the rarest and oldest of Old Pulteney’s whiskies was quite the induction. This whisky is a celebration, it’s so special. It has a stunning colour, like burnished copper.”

Mrs Burgess was tasked with creating the 30 year old and 50 year old whisky almost as soon as she was in the door of her job, which she started last autumn.

She said: “I started and it was very much ‘we are making these whiskies’. We didn’t want to have two whiskies with very similar flavour profiles. We wanted the DNA to be there, but we wanted there to be a clear difference.

“I think the most important thing about creating whisky is honouring that brand, its DNA and making it the best it can be. It’s about showcasing that particular whisky and distillery and telling its story.

“In any new job you get to know the people you’re working beside and, for me, I also get to know the distillery and stock. That’s like meeting new people. What are they all about and what’s there.”

On the defining character of each whisky, Mrs Burgess said: “For me it’s that minerality, that salinity. The location; the sea, maritime environment. Sea air does generally shape the distillery and the whisky and that needs to be evident every single time. It’s probably more evident in the 50 than it is in the 30 but it’s still there.”

As for her career pinnacle, Mrs Burgess said: “Back in 2010, Roseisle distillery had its opening and I was very heavily pregnant with my first child. But I thought ‘I must go to the distillery opening as how many distillery openings am I going to see in my lifetime?’

“Little did I know, many more were coming. I think the thing with whisky is, every time you do something different or special, you think ‘this is it’ then something else happens. To be part of a new company and turn this calendar year into the 200th anniversary - that is phenomenal.”

While the job is about creating the whisky and what’s next for the releases, Mrs Burgess said as a whisky maker you always have an eye on the future. Something she experienced when she found Manzanilla casks in the Old Pulteney warehouse, which have been used in the 200 Anniversary distillery exclusive release.

She said: “Although you're concentrating on the whisky you’re releasing now, you’re also thinking about what you’re laying down for the future for the next blender. Some of the decisions I make today, like cask purchases and what the distillery should be filling; I’m not going to see these whiskies.

“I’m going to be retired or dead by the time they come out. But that’s where there’s satisfaction. Knowing how great it felt when I came across the manzanilla casks; someone is going to feel like that for the decisions that I’m making today because you have to protect the future. It’d be easy to go to a distillery and take the very best of the stock and make amazing whisky today. If you only do that you’re not caring about the brand or the future and what comes next.”

Interest for Old Pulteney 50 Years Old (70cl) priced at £20,000 and 30 Years Old (70cl) priced at £1,750 can be registered on Old Pulteney’s website and they are available from select specialist partners across key markets including the UK, Global Travel Retail, China, Japan, France and USA from June 2026 onwards.